U.S. patent number 3,902,818 [Application Number 05/443,944] was granted by the patent office on 1975-09-02 for portable traffic sign and base therefor.
Invention is credited to Richard B. Boone.
United States Patent |
3,902,818 |
Boone |
September 2, 1975 |
Portable traffic sign and base therefor
Abstract
A traffic sign construction adapted to be selectively placed on
top of a rigid base during certain periods, such as during school
hours, periods when parking or turning is restricted, etc. The
rigid base may be shaped like a conventional cast iron lane marker,
having a convex top and a round bottom, and it is adapted to be
permanently mounted along (or within) the boundaries of a vehicle
roadway. A generally vertical bore in the center of the base
extends to the top, so that a sturdy shank which has already been
secured to the bottom of the traffic sign may be selectively
inserted and removed from the bore without the requirement for any
tools or special skill. A spring-loaded ball is preferably provided
in either the bore or the shank, and a complementary recess is
provided in the other of the two, so that they will be held
together when they are subjected to only moderate loads--such as
wind loads. When a person jerks the sign vertically upward, the
spring-loaded ball will allow the sign to be separated from the
base. Provision is made for washing out the interior of the base if
it should happen to become fouled, by including openings at ground
level which communicate with the vertical bore through appropriate
passages. The ground-level openings (and passages leading thereto)
are at least as large as the bore diameter, so that anything that
can be put in the top of the base can be removed from the bottom.
Also, no rain water is trapped in the base when the sign has been
removed, because the ground-level openings preclude such trapping.
No parts of the base are exposed to damage by vehicle wheels that
might inadvertently pass over a base that has been permanently
installed along a roadway. Preferably, the sign post is connected
to the shank by an element which is relatively strong in tension
but which will readily fail due to a significant shear load, such
as when the sign is accidently struck by an errant automobile.
Inventors: |
Boone; Richard B. (Arlington,
TX) |
Family
ID: |
23762826 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/443,944 |
Filed: |
February 20, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
404/10;
D10/109.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01F
9/61 (20160201); E01F 9/638 (20160201); E01F
9/681 (20160201); E01F 9/677 (20160201) |
Current International
Class: |
E01F
9/018 (20060101); E01F 9/011 (20060101); E01F
9/013 (20060101); E01F 009/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;404/10,15,9 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Byers, Jr.; Nile C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: McHugh; Charles W.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. an article of manufacture, comprising:
a. a rigid base adapted to rest permanently on top of the ground
along a roadway, said base having an opening in its top leading to
a generally vertical bore for receiving a structural element which
forms a part of a temporary traffic sign, and the base further
having at least one opening near its bottom edge which is connected
through a passage with the vertical bore with the bottom opening
and the passage having a size which is at least as large as the top
opening, such that any trash or soil which may enter the top
opening can pass through an unobstructed flow path through the base
and out of the bottom opening;
b. an upright post having at its top a traffic sign and at its
bottom an elongated shank, with the shank having a configuration
such that it can be iserted in the vertical bore, and the nominal
clearance between the shank and the vertical bore being about 0.005
inch; and
c. means for selectively holding the shank within the vertical bore
of the base, said means comprising a spring-biased element on the
shank or the base, and a recess for engaging the element on the
other of the two structures, whereby the shank and its associated
traffic sign may be selectively inserted and removed from the
vertical bore in the base.
2. The article claimed in claim 1 and further including a shearing
member extending axially upward from the shank into the upright
post, said shearing member being mounted so as to hold the post
securely to the shank when the member is in tension but to fail in
shear upon the post being subjected to impact by a moving
automobile.
3. The article as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is additionally
provided a cooperating key and recess at the juncture of the post
bottom and the base top, such that the shank can only be secured in
the vertical bore with a single orientation in which the key is
aligned with the recess.
4. The article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base constitutes a
rigid button or near hemispherical shape which is at least
partially hollow, and the bottom opening lies just above ground
level so that the base does not unduly trap rain water which may
enter through the top opening when the shank is not mounted
therein, whereby the base may be left permanently attached to the
ground in the manner of conventional traffic lane markers.
5. A construction useful as a supporting foundation for temporary
traffic information signs, comprising a rigid base adapted to be
affixed to the ground along a roadway, the base having a relatively
thick upper structure with a generally convex outer surface which
protrudes above the ground, and said structure having a generally
vertical bore which intersects said outer surface at a top opening
of given diameter, and said bore having a substantial length for
resisting the bending loads from wind blowing against a traffic
sign mounted on the base, and said base having at least one
ground-level opening at it periphery, with the size of each
ground-level opening being such as to accommodate any particle
which can pass through the top opening, with the top opening and
each of the ground-level openings being connected by a passage such
that nay liquid or solid matter is the nature of trash which enters
the top opening can be physically removed through a bottom opening,
whereby the base may be permanently affixed to the ground and left
in place even when a traffic information sign is not coupled to the
base so as to block the top opening against the entrance of foreign
matter.
6. The construction recited in claim 5 and further including
tapered shim means for installation between the ground and the base
for causing the base to rest horizontally even though the ground is
slanted, whereby the post of a traffic information sign can still
be vertical even when it is attached to a base mounted on slanted
ground, and said shim means further having a periphery which is the
same size as the bottom of the base, and further having
orientation-fixing means which permit the shim means to be oriented
with respect to the base in more than one manner while still
remaining evenly covered by the base.
7. The construction recited in claim 6 wherein the base has a round
bottom and the tapered shim means comprises a pair of wedge-shaped
discs which are rotatably adjustable with respect to each other,
with the diameter of the discs being substantially the same as the
diameter of the bottom of the base.
8. The construction as claimed in claim 5 wherein the base has a
plurality of spaced peripheral bolt holes through whcih the base
may be affixed to the ground, with the location and quantity of
said bolt holes defining a certain hole pattern, and further
including a tapered shim for installation between the base and the
ground, with said shim having at least two sets of peripheral
holes, each of which sets corresponds to the certain hole pattern
on the base, whereby the inclination of the installed base is a
function of which set of shim holes is aligned with the base
holes.
9. The construction as claimed in claim 5 wherein the generally
vertical bore in the base is appreciably larger than the shank of a
traffic information sign which is to be mounted thereabove, and
wherein a rigid sleeve is affixed within the vertical bore so as to
receive the shank and to transfer bending loads from the shank to
the base, and further including spring-biased means for resisting
disenagement of a shank once it is installed over a base.
10. A temporary traffic control apparatus, comprising:
a. a rigid base adapted to be permanently affixed within the
boundaries of a vehicle roadway, with the base protruding above the
roadway, and having a generally vertical and non-threaded bore
extending to the top of the base, such that a rigid and elongated
probe may be inserted into and tightly fitted within the bore, and
the base having a generally round bottom with a diameter of at
least 6 inches but no more than about 12 inches, and the top of the
base being generally convex, whereby the base is relatively immune
to damage by contact with vehicle wheels; and
b. a post selectively secured on top of the base, such that an
information-bearing sign which is attached to the post may be
observed by vehicle drivers, with said post having firmly fastened
to it bottom an elongated probe with a configuration exactly
matching that of the vertical bore, and the post being fastened to
the probe with a shear element which is adapted to yield in the
event of accidental impact of a vehicle with the post, which inpact
may occur from any horizontal direction with respect to the
longitudinal axis of the post, whereby a post which is accidentally
struck can be severed from its connection with the rigid base so as
to leave no part of the apparatus protruding appreciably above the
base.
11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the rigid base is
made of malleable cast iron having a diameter of aboub 7 1/2 inches
and a height of about 3 1/2 inches.
12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 and further including a
spring-biased means for holding the probe in engagement with the
base until such time as the probe is subjected to a substantial
vertical upward load, whereby the sign post may be successively
engaged with and removed from the base by over-riding the biasing
force of said spring-biased means.
13. In a construction adapted for marking lanes in a roadway,
including a near-hemispherical metal button having a diameter of
about six inches, and said button having means by which it may be
secured to a hard-surface roadway, the improvement comprising:
a generally vertical bore in the button extending to the top
thereof where it forms a circular opening having a diameter of
about one inch, with said top opening being adapted to receive a
cylindrical shank having a diameter of about one inch, with the
cylindrical shank constituting the bottom portion of a traffic sign
that is to be temporarily mounted over the button, and the button
having means for securely holding the cylindrical shank against
vibration when it is inserted into the bore, and the button further
having means for restricting the cylindrical shank to a particular
radial orientation with respect to the button, whereby a traffic
sign may be repeatedly connected to and removed from the button,
and each time the sign is connected to the button it will have the
same orientation.
14. The combination as claimed in claim 13 and further including at
least two ground-level openings, each of which has a size which is
adequate to pass any object which can be inserted into the top
opening, and the top opening being connected with the ground-level
openings through passages such that any debris which enters the top
opening can be expelled from a ground-level opening.
15. An article of manufacture, comprising:
a. a cast iron base of near hemispherical shape adapted to rest
permanently on top of the ground along a roadway, said base having
a round opening in its top leading to a generally vertical bore for
receiving a cylindrical shank which forms a part of a temporary
traffic sign, and a base further having at least one arched opening
near its bottom edge which is connected through a passage with the
vertical bore, with the bottom opening and the passage having a
size which is at least as large as the top opening, such that any
trash or soil which may enter the top opening can pass through an
unobstructed flow path through the base and out of the bottom
opening;
b. an upright post having at its top a traffic condition indicator
and at its bottom a cylindrical shank, with the shank having a
length at least as long as the vertical bore, and the nominal
clearance between the shank and the vertical bore being about 0.005
inch, and the bottom of the shank being rounded to facilitate its
entrance into the bore;
c. means for selectively holding the shank within the vertical bore
of the base, said means comprising a spring-biased ball within a
passage on the shank, and a recess for engaging the ball in the
vertical bore, whereby the shank and its associated traffic sign
may be selectively inserted and removed from the vertical bore in
the base;
d. a shearing member in the form of a bolt extending axially upward
from the shank into the upright post, said shearing member being
mounted so as to hold the post securely to the shank when the
member is in tension; and
e. an alignment key mounted adjacent the shank and cooperating
recess on the base at the juncture of the post bottom and the base
top, such that the shank can only be secured in the vertical bore
with a single orientation in which the key is aligned with the
recess.
Description
This invention relates generally to temporary road markers, and in
particular it relates to a marker in which an information-bearing
sign is capable of being temporarily attached to a base, which base
may be permanently affixed along or in a highway or the like.
There are many instances in which temporary highway markers, school
zone signs, traffic control warnings, etc., have been devised for
use on streets, parking lots, and highways, for the purpose of
giving information to drivers. Exemplary of such devices are those
disclosed in the patents to: Byrd U.S. Pat. No. 3,212,415; Fonda
U.S. Pat. No. 2,167,564; Gubela U.S. Pat. No. 3,451,319; and
Alexander U.S. Pat. No. 3,564,984. A common characteristic of these
and many other traffic control signs is that they provide for the
interlocking of co-operating parts in a base and an upright post.
There is a pronounced difficulty with such locking schemes,
however, if rain, snow, and dirt causes the recepticle in one part
to become clogged or filled such that it will not accept a mating
element of the other part. Thus, properly designed and manufactured
interlocking parts can almost always be easily fitted together when
they are new and clean. Too, after they are joined together on
site, they usually are effective to lock out dirt, snow, sand,
salt, trash and the like; but, if subsequently they are ever
separated, they leave exposed certain grooves, cavities, ears,
lugs, apertures, etc., which are capable of being filled and/or
damaged by contact with vehicle wheels, etc. If it were desired
that the base should be permanently left alongside a street and an
information-bearing sign should be only temporarily affixed to the
base, then devices of the past would not suffice. Exemplary cases
where signs are only temporarily needed are: school zones,
intersections where turns are restricted only during certain hours
of particular days, construction or repair sites where work is
carried on only during certain hours, loading zones for businesses,
restricted parking area for parades, funerals or sports events, and
unusual driving conditions such as ice on bridges, etc.
With particular attention to school-zone problems, it would be
desirable to provide a warning sign which could be temporarily
affixed by relatively young person, e.g., students who serve a
safety patrol or the like. Such students cannot always be expected
to possess a great deal of mechanical skill, nor should they be
expected to expose themselves to prolonged danger from passing
vehicles during the time they are installing or removing warning
signs. Hence, it is an object of this invention to provide a
temporarily installable warning sign which can be readily put in
place and removed by the use of simple techniques.
It is another object of this invention to provide an
information-bearing sign which can be readily affixed to a base
which is permanently mounted within or alongside a vehicle
roadway.
Still another object is to provide a mounting means for a sign post
which includes a shear pin or the like, such that if a vehicle
accidentally strikes the post, then the post can be yieldably
separated from a fixed base, hopefully causing relatively litte
damage to either the vehicle or the post.
An additional object is to teach a manner in which existing highway
buttons or lane markers can be modified so that they can be
utilized as bases for temporary warning signs.
One more object is to provide a temporary mounting for a portable
warning sign which can be installed and removed without the need
for any tools.
These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the
specification and the drawings provided herewith. In the
drawing:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination lane marker/sign base
of the invention, showing a portion of an upright post upon which a
traffic sign may be mounted.
FIG. 2 is an cross-sectional, elevational view of a base shown in
FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, elevational, cross-sectional view of a
shank connected with a base.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, elevational view of a ground level opening
on a base, which opening permits the vertical bore in the base to
remain clear of debris and rain water, etc.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the
shank, showing the shear bolt which connects the shank and the
bottom of a sign post.
FIG. 6 is a view of the structural element at the bottom of a sign
post, taken in the plane VI--VI of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is an elevational
view of a base with two wedge-shaped leveling shims installed
thereunder.
FIG. 8 is a top view of one of the wedge-shaped shims shown in FIG.
7.
FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 3 which shows how a conventional
lane marker may be modified to accept a shank of the invention,
and
FIG. 10 is a diagramatic plan view of a road intersection.
According to this invention, a rigid base is adapted to rest on top
of the ground along a boundary of a vehicle roadway. By the
expression "boundary", it is intended to broadly encompass the
sides of any traveled lane, whether that lane is a single lane
within a multiple-lane highway, or the sides of a one-lane road,
etc. Since the object of a warning sign is to convey information to
the vehicle drivers, it is of course desirable that the base be as
close to the vehicle's path of travel as is practical; the closer
the sign is to his cone of front vision, the more nearly certain it
is that a driver will see the displayed sign among all of the other
regulating and advisory traffic signs and commercial
advertisements, etc., which compete for his attention. Neither the
base nor the sign should occupy any more space than is absolutely
necessary, however, since it would thereby introduce its own hazard
to traffic. Some temporary sign bases of the past were relatively
heavy cast iron or concrete discs which were rolled into position
when the signs were to be used. In order to have any stability in
even a modest wind, such signs usually had heavy bases of 18 inches
to 20 inches wide. When heavy enough to stay in place and do their
job, they usually were awkward to move into position. Also, because
of their weight, they could become particularly dangerous
projectiles if they were ever struck by a vehicle with enough force
to propel them through the air. Furthermore, such portable signs
(with their permanently attached bases) were subject to being put
in place from day to day with a varying orientation, e.g.,
sometimes they may have been perpendicular to approaching traffic,
sometimes they were turned slightly to the right, and sometimes
turned to the left. Hence, there was no reliable way that a traffic
control engineer could proscribe an optimum orientation for prior
portable signs and then realistically expect that his proscriptions
would be followed by the various persons who would be setting the
signs in place.
Another liability of previously used "portable" signs with bases up
to 20 inches wide is their bulk with respect to the typical
roadway. If such wide bases are rolled to the center of a
residential street so that their signs may announce the proximity
of a school or other activity deserving special attention, it can
be seen that such bases will take from the available driving space
an inordinate amount of space. It can be appreciated, therefore,
why such temporary signs have not found favor with some police
departments or traffic and safety organizations. In fact, as of
1973 there was no really adequate technique for mounting a
regulatory school zone sign in the proximity of our nation's
schools.
A widely accepted marker for establishing "safe zones" and
indicating lanes of a vehicle roadway does exist, however; such
markers are usually known as "buttons" or simply as "cast iron
markers". They typically have a diameter up to 12 or 14 inches, and
a height of about 3 1/2 inches; most older buttons are made of cast
iron, while some newer ones are made of plastic or aluminum. Such
markers or buttons are commercially available from national supply
houses such as SA-SO, Inc, of Grand Prairie, Tex. Naturally, it is
desirable that any such button or marker which is placed in a
roadway should have as low a profile as possible, so that any
vehicle which accidentally hits such a marker would not be
immediately thrown out of control or suffer premature tire failure,
etc. Too, if a vehicle somehow straddles a row of buttons, it is
important that the buttons be low enough to provide adequate
clearance between the vehicle's bottom structure and the top of the
buttons. While the larger buttons have not been looked upon with
favor by all traffic control engineers, most drivers have learned
to be alert to their presence and avoid them. Hence, the adaptation
of such markers or buttons as the requisite base for a warning sign
described herein is reasonable.
A preferred dimension for the rigid base 20 of FIG. 1 is a diameter
of approximately 71/2 inches and a height of approximately 31/2
inches. The base 20 may be made of any suitable material, such as
cast iron, aluminum, or plastic, but cast iron is generally
preferred because of its rigidity and strength. It will typically
protrude above the roadway, and usually will be permanently affixed
thereto. Since the diameter of the base 20 is relatively small (in
order to minimize the consumed space and therefore maximize the
travel way available for vehicles), the stability of the entire
device will naturally be improved by the use of anchoring bolts,
nails, glue or the like to secure the base to the roadway. The
upper surface of the base 20 is preferably convex, as is
conventional with other traffic buttons. The upper surface of the
base 20 is provided with three widely spaced recesses 22 at
radially disposed locations around the base. As can perhaps more
advantageously be seen in FIG. 2, each of said recesses 22 has a
horizontal ledge 24 with an aperture 26 through which a mounting
bolt 28 may be inserted.
Also visible in FIg. 2 is a generally vertical bore 30 which
extends to the top surface of the base 20 where it forms an opening
32 of given size and shape. The opening 32 is adapted to receive a
structural element 34 (FIG. 3) which constitutes a part of a
portable traffic sign.
Referring still to FIGS. 1 and 2, at least one opening 36 is
provided near the bottom edge of the base 20, at ground level. The
size of the opening 36 is such that it can accommodate (i.e., pass)
any particle of matter which can pass through the top opening.
Hence, if the opening 32 has a diameter of D, then the opening 36
should have a size appropriate for letting a marble or rock of
diameter D pass therethrough, also. If two openings 36 are provided
in a base 20, they are ideally located so that a stick or rod may
be inserted into one of the openings and caused to protrude out of
the other opening. By manipulating a rod through the two openings
36, any trash or soil that enters the opening 32 (and which is not
removed by rain) can be eliminated from the hollow base 20, so that
the bore 30 will remain clear and a shank 34 can be readily
inserted therein. If a substantially solid base is employed rather
than a hollow one (as shown in FIG. 2), then an appropriately sized
passage would naturally be included between the top opening 32 and
the ground-level openings 36 in order to insure that the base will
be essentially self-cleaning. With regard to such a passage it is
important that it be inclined downwardly so that it will not unduly
trap rain water when the shank 34 is removed and the opening 32 is
exposed; this is because such trapped water--if it froze--might
expand enough to rupture a wall of the base. Of course, a short
protective plug could be substituted for the shank when the sign is
to be removed; but such a plug might be subject to accidental loss
or theft Accordingly, vandals, etc. Accordinly, it is preferred to
simply anticipate that rain will be present and to utilize it to
wash foreign matter out of the interior of the base, rather than to
try (perhaps ineffectually) to exclude it from the base.
Referring specifically to FIG. 3, a sign post 38 having at its
bottom end the aforementioned shank 34 is shown in place in a base
20. A spring-loaded ball 40 holds the shank 34 securely in place
against wind loads, but releases the shank when an upward thrust is
imparted to the post 38. A satisfactory spring 42 is No. 151A
manufactured by Associated Spring Corporation of Bristol, Conn.,
which is 25 gauge wire coiled to a 1/4 inch diameter. When the
shank 34 has a 1 inch diameter, the spring 42 will typically have a
1/2 inch length, and it will normally be held in place by a set
screw 44 or the like. A "safe load" for such a spring (in an axial
direction) is 1.2 lbs., but it will readily resist a 10 lb.
vertical pull on the shank 34. The hardened steel ball 40 is
adapted to engage a recess or groove 46 in the bore 30, but the
arrangement could be reversed such that a spring-loaded ball in the
base would engage a recess in the shank. An alignment pin 48 is
advantageously provided at the juncture of the post bottom and the
base top, so that it may engage a recess 49, thereby insuring that
the shank or probe 34 can only be inserted one way. This is
especially useful when the bore 30 and shank 34 are cylindrical;
but it can still be used to advantage even if the shank has a
square cross-section.
In FIG. 5, a probe 34A is shown in cross section, with a shear
element (bolt 50) illustrated as holding disk 52 and post 38
securely to the probe. A 3/8 inch steel bolt 50 in such a
construction will securely hold a sign against substantially any
anticipated wind load, e.g., up to about 100 m.p.h. It should be
noted that the threads on the bolt 50 traverse the interface
between the disk 52 and the shank 34A, so that shear failure of the
bolt (if the sign should be accidentally struck by an automobile)
will occur in a threaded portion of the bolt. In order to minimize
the danger to surrounding objects after a sign has been
accidentally sheared off, it is preferred that the sign be as light
as possible; for this reason, a material like fiberglass is
preferred for the upper structure of the sign.
Referring still to FIG. 5, it has been found to be extremely
difficult to tighten a bolt 50 tight enough so that a person cannot
simply twist the disk 52 counterclockwise and loosen the bolt; the
mechanical leverage which is achieved through the relatively wide
disk 52 is believed to explain this characteristic. To prevent the
disk 52 from turning with respect to a shank 34A, it is desirable
to have the alignment pin protrude above the top of the shank for a
short distance, e.g., 1/16 inch. A shallow recess 54 is provided in
the bottom surface of disk 52, to cooperate with pin 48 in
preventing rotation of the disk about its center. The recess 54 is
shaped to provide clearance for the pin 48 along a line through the
bolt 50, so that shearing forces in the directions represented by
arrow 56 will not be resisted by the pin 48. Shearing forces in the
directions represented by the arrow 58 should not be unduly
affected by the pin 48, so that bolt 50 will shear as planned when
subjected to sufficient dynamic loading.
While the shear member 50 does provide "breakaway" protection (so
that the sign does not have properties of an immovable object if it
is ever struck by an automobile), it is sturdy enough to resist
damage due to carelessness or inattention during those times when
the sign is not installed in a base. Thus, if a person happened to
drop a sign and the shank 34 struck its side on a hard surface, the
3/8 inch bolt would resist such modest shear loads. Similarly, the
shank itself is preferably made of tool steel, e.g., E.M. Jorgenson
Co. 12L-14 tool steel, so that it will normally resist most any
abuse. The alignment pin 48 can be effectively made from drill rod,
so that it is relatively immune to physical damage. The mounting
plate 52 and the shoulder on shank 34 are preferably about 1/4 inch
thick, so that they are very strong. Accordingly, the entire
construction can be placed in the hands of even relatively young
persons without apprehension that it might be quickly damaged. This
attention to strength and durability is justified because one
purpose of the invention is to provide a portable sign construction
that can be employed by school-age children to mark a school
crossing zone or the like. When the sign is not needed to warn
motorists of a potential hazardous situation, it should be removed
and placed in storage; and it is during the movement to and from
storage that the durability of the construction is likely to be
rather severely tested.
Referring next to FIG. 7, another example of a combination sign
base/lane marker for a vehicle roadway is shown installed on a
roadway which is not level. Since it is usually desired that a sign
post 38 always be vertical, a means for leveling the lane marker is
provided, including at least one--and preferably two--shims having
a wedge-shaped configuration. As shown in FIG. 7, two washers or
shims 70 are provided, and (in this figure) their thickest portions
are adjacent one another so that the maximum tilting of the base 20
with respect to the roadway is accomplished. A plurality of
apertures 72 are provided in each of the washers or shims 70, so
that the two shims may be rotated with respect to one another and
appropriate bolts 28 may be inserted therethrough to securely fix
the base to the ground. It is preferred that the shims be
continuous rather than like a washer (with a hole in the middle),
so that foreign matter or rain will not be trapped inside a shim.
As shown in FIG. 8, there are twelve apertures 72, and the shims
may be rotated such that three bolts 28 (suggested in FIG. 7) may
be placed through three sets of aligned holes when securing a base
to the ground. A distinct advantage of using at least two shims 70
is that a post 38 may be readily erected so that it is essentially
vertical, by merely changing the relative orientation of two
shims.
While the base shown in FIGS. 1-3 has been specially designed to
foster the temporary mounting of a warning sign thereabove, there
may be certain circumstances which would make desirable the
adaptation of existing lane markers for the same purpose. Since the
basic purpose of a base as disclosed herein is to provide an anchor
for the mounting of a temporary sign, it might be possible to
satisfactorily modify a commercially available lane marker by
adding thereto a special sleeve 80 which is adapted to fit within a
large vertical recess created in the top of a base 20A. The wall
thickness of commercially available cast iron buttons may pose
somewhat of a problem, however, since it will not usually be as
great as the thickness of a specialized button 20 disclosed herein.
Accordingly, welding may be advantageously used in addition to
threading as a means for securing a sleeve 80 to a button 20A. A
sleeve 80 should be rust-resistant and have a recess or groove to
accommodate a locking ball on a shank 34. The sleeve 80 should have
a length approximately the same as the shank 34, e.g., 1.5 inches.
Regardless of the latching means which is employed, however, it
should be remembered that the sign-mounting construction is
preferably simple enough to be engaged and disengaged by a
relatively young person--and without the aid of any tools.
Because most buttons are intended to remain permanently affixed in
a roadway even when signs are not affixed thereto, it is
appropriate to pay attention to protecting all of the components
and making them immune to damage from accidental impact with
vehicle wheels. Of course, permanently mounted buttons with an
upright sign mounted thereon will be more readily seen (and
avoided) than will be the same button without a sign. However,
recognizing that someday a driver may inadvertently steer his
vehicle over one of the buttons, it is preferred that a round
button have a diameter no greater than about 12 inches and a height
less than 4 inches. It is also believed that a round button should
have a diameter of at least six inches, in order to foster
stability on windy days.
In use of the embodiments of the invention, the need for a portable
traffic sign is first established by considerations relating to
traffic safety. Such considerations will typically include the need
to warn drivers of an unusual condition ahead, an intersection
where turning is restricted during certain hours of the day, the
proximity to a church where services are being conducted, an area
where children may be passing to and from school, a funeral home
where a service may be in progress, etc. All of the aforementioned
situations make desirable the temporary mounting of a warning sign
for drivers, followed preferably by the removal of the sign so that
it does not remain at a site when its message is unnecessary.
(Removing the sign precludes its damage from vandals, errant
automobiles, etc.) The sign is normally removed by a policeman,
construction worker, traffic controller, or safety patrol member,
etc.; the removed sign would typically be placed in storage until
it is again needed to convey its information to approaching
drivers. In FIG. 10, there are several possible locations for the
bases 20 to be mounted. The bases 20 may stand alone along the
center line of a street, or they may be mounted on top of a curb;
or they may be in series with conventional lane markers which are
not adapted to have a sign mounted thereon, but are merely used for
the purpose of segregating one lane of traffic from another.
Having determined where a portable sign can be advantageously used,
the base 20 is then installed within or along the boundaries of the
roadway; conventional bolts 28 would be inserted through the
generally vertical peripheral recesses and driven into the roadway,
as is customary with other lane markers. If the street is not
level, a base can be made substantially level by inserting an
appropriate number of shims 70 under it, as illustrated in FIG. 7.
Too, if a base is to remain in one place for only a a few days
(such as at a road repair site), a simple long spike inserted
through a fairly central hole in a base may be more appropriate
than a plurality of peripheral bolts 28 for holding a base in
position. Once the base 20 is installed, it will probably need no
further attention, and it can remain as a permanent fixture of the
roadway. As with other lane markers, it may be painted periodically
to protect its surface and improve its appearance, and a rod may
occasionally be pushed through the base to dislodge any debris that
may be caught. During dry weather, cleaning water may be poured
into the generally vertical bore 30 to further clean it. If the
base is made of malleable cast iron, it should last for many year,
while the sign may be replaced as often as seems necessary. If the
bore 30 should experience too much wear from frequent use, a steel
sleeve or bushing may be affixed to the base 20 to insure a tight
fit between the fixed base and a removable shank 34.
One further advantage of the system taught herein is that a
qualified traffic engineer (or other professional) can decide
exactly where and how a base should be installed, so that a sign
which is later placed on top of the base will satisfy appropriate
safety standards and codes. Once the base 20 and its alignment
recess 49 are fixed on a roadway, any person may come along and
correctly orient a sign on top of the base. The certaintly with
which portable signs can be located with this invention should be
recognized as being in marked contrast to the randomness with which
prior portable signs, with their heavy concrete and steel bases,
were set up by relatively unskilled persons. Too, this invention
fosters the implementation of one of the most important facets of
temporary regulatory and advisory signs, namely, that they be
removed from view during those hours when they are not needed--so
that drivers will not tend to become immune to their message.
Afer the base 20 is made ready, a person may simply carry a
portable sign (with a suitable shank like that shown in FIG. 3
attached to the bottom) up to the base. By inserting the shank into
the base 20 and aligning a key or pin 48 with its recess 49, the
shank ill descend far enough until the spring-loaded ball engages
the matching recess in the vertical wall of the bore 30. The
matching ball and recess will prevent the shank 34 from "walking"
out of the bore 30 due to any wind--induced vibration. Of course,
other spring-biased elements besides a captive ball may be used to
secure the two structures (the shank and the base) together. A
rather close fit (e.g. 0.005 inch) between the shank and the
vertical bore is preferred, so only a relatively light spring is
needed to keep the shank secured within the base. If the sign post
38 should ever be struck by a car, the impact may be severe enough
to shear the bolt 50, so that the post is no longer held rigidly to
a base. The shank 34 will not be damaged by such an impact, and it
may be later removed from the base and connected with a new bolt to
the same sign post or a new one. Until the shank 34 is removed from
the base, only its wide, flat shoulder 53 (typically 1/4 inch or
less) would protrude above the base; hence it would constitute no
threat to either persons or vehicles that might somehow come into
contact with it. Indeed, it is the very low profile of the
construction--after shear failure has occured--that contributes to
one of the very pronounced advantages of the system, namely, that
the bases can be mounted so very close to the traveled roadway.
While only the preferred emobodiments of the invention have been
disclosed in great detail herein, it will be apparent to those
skilled in the art that modifications thereof can be made without
departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, the specific
structures shown herein are intended to be exemplary and are not
meant to be limiting, except as described in the claims appended
hereto. For example, the size and shape of a base may be altered as
necessary to fit special requirements; similarly, the shape of a
shank may be varied, as long as it can be easily inserted and
removed as disclosed herein, etc. If the bore 30 were to be
provided in a base at some angle so that it was not truly vertical
when installed, naturally the inclination of the shank would be
similarly modified so that it would still mate with the bore while
leaving the sign post vertical. These and other modifications may
be apparent to those skilled in the art, and are intended to be
encompassed by the following claims.
* * * * *